PEOPLE in Teesside will not have to pay as much as was originally thought for police services next year.

Cleveland Police Authority had previously warned of a "yawning gap" between Government grants for the service and expenditure, which would have to be met by taxpayers.

But the earlier prediction of a £1.8m rise in tax has been lowered to £1.1m after a more generous Government grant than had been expected was announced for next year.

A rise in the portion of council taxes which pay for the police service is expected to be under 20 pence a week for most tax bands.

Cleveland Police Authority chairman Councillor Ken Walker said: "I suppose the best way to sum up our position is to say that it could have been worse. The Government is providing around £750,000 more in grants than we had first anticipated, which is good news.

The service will cost £101.5m next year.